* Ivory Coast paralysed by unresolved presidential election
* Western powers consider sanctions against Ivory Coast
* EU measures to include visa bans, asset freezes
(Adds comment by EU foreign policy chief)
By Justyna Pawlak and David Brunnstrom
BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to impose sanctions on Ivory Coast, putting pressure on incumbent Laurent Gbagbo to relinquish power after a disputed presidential election.
The EU move will target Gbagbo and his supporters with asset freezes and a visa ban, after he claimed victory in the Nov. 28 vote over challenger Alassane Ouattara, despite Ouattara being declared the winner by the Ivory Coast election commission.
The United States has also threatened to take measures against Gbagbo, with President Barack Obama writing to say he would support efforts to isolate him if he refused to quit.
"We call for an immediate and peaceful handover of power," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers. "We decided to adopt, without delay, restrictive measures against those who are obstructing peace and reconciliation".
She said officials from the 27-member bloc would draw up a list of leaders to be targeted by the restrictions but declined to say who would be included when the steps are imposed.
"I hope today's decision will persuade the incumbent government to respond before we reach that stage," she said.
Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, has been in turmoil since last month's poll, which was meant to reunify the country after a 2002-03 civil war. World leaders and regional bodies have recognised Ouattara as president, and the African Union has suspended Ivory Coast's membership until Gbagbo quits.
His refusal to step down threatens to compromise a ${esc.dollar}3 billion international aid package. The International Monetary Fund has said it will not cooperate in the aid programme if the Ivory Coast government is not recognised by the United Nations.
However, Gbagbo retains control of the armed forces and has rejected criticism as foreign meddling.
He has been in power since winning a disputed election in 2000, when thousands of his supporters took to the streets to help oust military coup leader General Robert Guei, who was accused of trying to rig the vote.
Elections due in 2005 were repeatedly put off as Ivory Coast, once a haven of stability and the region's brightest economic prospect, was caught in a cycle of attempted peace deals and renewed crisis.
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